John Amos has passed away, aged 84, it’s been announced this week
Writer and actor John Amos has passed away, aged 84, his son has announced this week.
John – known for his role on Good Times – is said to have died on August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes. His son K.C. Amos said in a statement shared by the Hollywood Reporter: “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life.” He added that John’s legacy will live on in his “outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
John had a decades-long career in the entertainment industry, most notably playing older Kunta Kinte in the miniseries Roots in 1977 and James Evans Sr. on the CBS sitcom Good Times, which ran from 1974 to 1976. John reportedly left Good Times after three seasons following clashes with those behind the show.
The show centred on couple Florida Evans (played by Esther Rolle) and her husband James, and their family. The show, which has been describes as pioneering over its focus on an African American family, is a spin-off of Maude, which was itself a spin-off of All in the Family.
He went on to appear in films like Coming to America (1988), in which he played the character Cleo McDowell – a role he reprised in the sequel Coming 2 America (2021). His other credits include Die Hard 2 (1990) and Uncut Gems (2019).
John’s TV roles include brief appearances in shows like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Two and a Half Men, My Name Is Earl and 30 Rock, as well as a role on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. He played Admiral Percy Fitzwallace in the West Wing and his most recent acting credits include playing Buddy Lissons in an episode of the Righteous Gemstones in 2022.
Tributes have been paid this week following the news of his passing, with one fan tweeting: “John Amos was one of those actors you were always happy to see pop up in whatever it was you were watching. Even if the material wasn’t good, he always was. RIP.”
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